Camera crew with earphones

Sometimes in bts videos, I have seen what I believe are members of the camera crew (camera assistants) with an earphone in one ear...anybody know what these are used for? Is this used so the camera crew can communicate with each other? How common is this? Thanks.

On most crews, all grip, electric and art/props will wear them. Different channels for different teams. As DP, I have mine on me always, but sometimes it's out when a particular channel gets busy and I have a different conversation going on with talent, a director or client.

I know there are some DP's like Robert Richardson who always have a walkie/headphone/mic set-up on so they can communicate with the gaffer, key grip, and AC (he usually operates and is sometimes up on a crane, so this makes sense.)

I haven't gotten into that habit except for an occasional shot, like when I'm on a camera car and the operator and AC are on the process trailer. I tried early on to whisper into an operator's earpiece to correct the framing, only to find that he'd made it worse -- I'd say "put her more frame left" and he'd think I told him to pan left, which is the opposite. Anyway, I find it a bit of a distraction during a take to be dealing with a walkie-talkie, and during a set-up, I have all of the keys in earshot so I don't need it. Besides, most people on set during a take have to turn their walkies off or way down anyway, so trying to use one then is asking for trouble.

There are two types of communications. Plain old walkie talkies. Most people wear surveillance mics and earpieces with them, and the type Richardson uses that David mentioned where it is a two way communication device like a head set with a mic out in front. You can talk to all your keys at once instead of channel surfing on a walkie. That type is a pain but great for live shots or where communication is needed during a take.

You just can't forget to self edit your speech or you could say something embarrassing.

I know there are some DP's like Robert Richardson who always have a walkie/headphone/mic set-up on so they can communicate with the gaffer, key grip, and AC (he usually operates and is sometimes up on a crane, so this makes sense.)

I haven't gotten into that habit except for an occasional shot, like when I'm on a camera car and the operator and AC are on the process trailer. I tried early on to whisper into an operator's earpiece to correct the framing, only to find that he'd made it worse -- I'd say "put her more frame left" and he'd think I told him to pan left, which is the opposite. Anyway, I find it a bit of a distraction during a take to be dealing with a walkie-talkie, and during a set-up, I have all of the keys in earshot so I don't need it. Besides, most people on set during a take have to turn their walkies off or way down anyway, so trying to use one then is asking for trouble.